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H&S News October 2008
| Eastbourne man fined £44,000 for unlicensed removal of asbestos. |
| Robert McCart, a Director of two Eastbourne based companies Sussex Asbestos Solutions (South East) Ltd and Sussex Asbestos Solutions Ltd, was fined £36,000 and £4,000 costs under CAR 2006. Mr McCart was employed by a local businessman to remove asbestos insulation board from his shop. He undertook the removal of the board without the required licence for work with asbestos and without notifying the HSE. Mr McCart also failed to carry out the appropriate precautions and left a white sack containing broken pieces of asbestos insulation board outside the shop and asbestos debris inside the property. His actions put members of the public at risk of exposure to potentially lethal asbestos fibres. Mr McCart was ordered to pay £4,000 compensation to the shop owner. The Court clearly accepted the gravity of the offence and also disqualified Mr McCart from being a Director for 4 years. |
Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/licensing/index.htm HSE (South East) Press Release COISE/0209 30/9/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Claire's Accessories pay for blocked stairs. |
| The High Street retail chain Claire's Accessories has been ordered to pay a total of £4,535 in fines and costs after they were found guilty of breaching HASAWA 1974 by failing to keep the stairway free of obstructions. A member of staff at their Caerphilly store was badly injured after tripping over items stored on the stairs. |
HSW October 2008:3 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Bldng news 4 U. |
| HSE is trialling a new SMS text alert service for the construction industry. Users can sign up to receive important news and information via text messages which will include a link to the relevant HSE web page for further details. |
Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/infonet.htm HSW October 2008:3 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| HSE could view personal email and phone logs. |
| The HSE and LAs will be able to access records of individuals' internet traffic, including email, and SMS text messages, as well as landline and mobile phone calls when investigating suspected safety offenders under new powers proposed by the Government. The powers will allow investigators to view records of who emailed or called whom at specific times, though they will not have access to the content of messages. Comments on the Consultation Document must be received by 31 October. |
Internet: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2008-transposition?view=Binary HSW October 2008:3 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Liability certificates to go digital. |
| Under The Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, employers will be able to display their employers' liability insurance certificates in electronic form from 1 October this year, as long as all employees can access them. |
HSW October 2008:6 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Importer in court for multiple fire breaches. |
| Munro Importers fined total of £20,000 and costs of £7,311 under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Following concerns from the police, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service found a number of breaches that would have put the company's visitors and 22 staff at risk in a fire. They included fire doors that had been wedged open, blocked or obstructed exit routes, and aisles and passageways that were restricted. |
HSW October 2008:8 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Retailers get dedicated HSE site. |
| The HSE has launched a new website for the retail industry offering advice on key safety issues such as slips and trips, manual handling, and falls from height. It features the latest accident statistics in the industry, links to free leaflets, and sample risk assessments. |
Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/retail/index.htm HSW October 2008:8 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Link fines to share price, says MSP. |
| Bill Wilson, a Member of the Scottish Parliament, is consulting on proposals to introduce "equity fines" for firms found guilty of causing death or injury. Mr Wilson said "In effect, an equity fine is a fine which is imposed upon the value of the firm, rather than being imposed upon its running costs." |
HSW October 2008:9 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| What not to wear. |
| Restricting how employees can dress or behave at work may backfire if you can't justify your decision on safety grounds. (Jocelyn Dorrell) |
HSW October 2008:14-16 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| SMEs: risky business. |
| Continuing the guide on the basics of safety management for small business with advice on risk assessment. (Paul Reeve) |
HSW October 2008:18-20 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Site specifics: lone working. |
| Tracking down the best online guidance on safe lone working. (Bridget Leathley) |
HSW October 2008:22-24 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Sunday drivers. |
| A warning against neglecting the safety of occasional drivers. (Rick Wood) |
HSW October 2008:31-32 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Avoiding systems failure. |
| Some basic steps to take to ensure your e-learning programme doesn't freeze or crash. (Julian Roberts) |
HSW October 2008:34-36 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Pass it on. |
| Cascade or train-the-trainer systems involve training a small group who then pass on what they know to the rest of the workforce. Setting out the pros and cons. (Paul Smith) |
HSW October 2008:38,40 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Feats of memory. |
| Some tips on revising for professional exams. (Dee Arp) |
HSW October 2008:42-44 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Construction firms must act on advice warn HSE. |
| Chelford Properties Ltd were fined £6,000 and costs of £4,500 under CDMR 1994 and CHSWR 1996. The property developer failed to act on a series of warnings about poor security and lack of systems for managing site traffic. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW/022/PROS/08 1/10/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| HSE issues safety alert on gas appliance flues in ceiling voids. |
| HSE has issued a safety alert aimed at builders and developers, managing agents, landlords and occupiers of residential properties with gas central heating boilers sited on internal walls. The purpose of the alert is to raise awareness of a potential poisoning risk. |
HSE (National) Press Release E046:08 2/10/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Safety alert in store for Bridgend and Swansea builders. |
| Builders who were picking up materials from the Bridgend and Swansea branches of Jewson this week, were also able to pick up free advice on keeping themselves, their employees and everyone connected with their work safe. The HSE and the South Wales Working Well Together (WWT) group set up an advice stand in-store. |
HSE (Wales) Press Release W/544/2008 and W/543/2008 29/9/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Life saving message for Cheshire farmers at Health and Safety Executive Agriculture Day. |
| Cheshire's agricultural industry claims, on average, at least one life every year. Seven people have perished in incidents on the county's farmland since 2003. HSE will be supporting an event in the county on Tuesday 7 October at the Reaseheath Agricultural College in Nantwich, to provide free guidance, training and advice to those working in the industry. |
Contact: Jason Teasale 0161 952 4460 HSE (North West) Press Release E84:08 30/9/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Swimming pool fatality - HSE submit report to Procurator Fiscal. |
| A report by the HSE concerning their investigation into the circumstances of the death of 7 year old Luke Hutton, has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal at Dundee. Luke was discovered drowned in the leisure pool at the Olympia Leisure Centre, his body was found by lifeguards after the last public swimming session. |
HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/151/08 30/9/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| HSE scaffold event targets Lancashire and Cumbria construction managers. |
| There is a growing concern over the amount of poor scaffolding work at construction sites across Lancashire and Cumbria. HSE is holding a special safety awareness event on October 7, aimed at senior managers with scaffolding companies across the two counties. Falling from height remains the most common of fatal injury in the workplace. More than 30 scaffolding Enforcement Notices have been issued across Lancashire and Cumbria since April and inspectors say the figure represents one third of all Enforcement Notices in the construction sector. |
HSE (North West) Press Release HSE/NW/REGINI/018/08 1/10/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust |
| Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Trust patient scalded in bath, no thermostatic mixing valve. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4116238 21/7/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Interservefm Ltd |
| Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Failure to manage contractor that carried out crane removal without supervision. Crane overturned and injured driver. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4113216 23/7/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| David Swindell Junior |
| Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s7. A 17 year old trainee scaffolder employed by 3D Scaffolding Ltd fell approx 18 metres whilst working to construct a scaffold within a 20 metre high sewage digester tank. David Swindell, a contracts manager employed by 3D Scaffolding Ltd, failed to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons who might be affected by his acts or omissions at work. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4010496 24/7/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Janesville Acoustics UK Ltd |
| Fined total of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999. An employee was using his hand to evenly distribute resin in a hopper when a rotating agitator within the hopper came into contact with the employee's hand causing injury to his fingers, which required surgery. Failure to make a suitable assessment of the risk to its employee and failure to ensure the safety of its employees. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4105981 24/7/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Janesville Acoustics UK Ltd |
| Fined total of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 and MHSWR 1999. An agency worker was changing a plastic bag on the dust extraction system, he slipped and his arm became trapped in an unguarded part of the machine. He suffered crush injuries to his hand. Failure to make a suitable assessment of the risk and failure to ensure someone not in his employment was not at risk. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4105985 24/7/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Wilden Developments Ltd |
| Fined £2,000 under WHR 2005. Three workers were seen working on the pitched roof of a bungalow removing tiles from the ridge down to the eaves. No measures had been taken to prevent falls, nor were any measures taken to mitigate the effect of any falls. Areas of the ground onto which workers could fall had been concreted. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4118013 24/7/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Thor Group Limited |
| Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees in that they: a. failed to provide and maintain plant, namely a tower scaffold, that was safe and without risks to health, b. failed to provide and maintain systems of work for the assembly, use and disassembly of a tower scaffold that were safe and without risks to health, c. failed to provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as was necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of all their employees. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4119373 25/7/08 Week ending: 03/10/08 |
| Risk assessment resources. |
| The theme of this year's European Week for Safety & Health which takes place this month (20-24 October) is risk assessment. EU-OSHA's website has a whole section devoted to risk assessment. HSE's website has information about the "Euro Week" campaign as well as a huge amount of information. RoSPA has produced an advice pack aimed at small businesses. IOSH has free resources available from their website, including a risk management toolkit. |
Internet: http://osha.europa.eu/en/topics/riskassessment www.hse.gov.uk/risk www.rospa.com/occupationalsafety/smallfirms/index.htm www.iosh.co.uk/index.cfm?go=euweek.main RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:12-13 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Olympic workforce breaks record. |
| The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that the Olympic Park workforce has achieved another million hours without a reportable accident - the fifth since the ODA gained possession of the Park in July 2007. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:2 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| 9/11 survivors helping to save lives. |
| New research involving face-to-face interviews with survivors of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre will improve high rise evacuations and help save lives in future. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:3 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Accident costs. |
| New estimates put the total cost to employers in Britain of workplace injuries at around £1.2 billion and work-related ill health at £1.7 to £2 billion each year. The estimates were based on the cost of absence, recruitment, administration, compensation and insurance in 2005/06. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:4 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Fire statistics. |
| The latest fire statistics for the UK covering the 12 month period up to 30 Sept 2007 shows a fall in the total number of fires (405,000), down 5 per cent. Fires in non-residential buildings (inc workplaces) were down by 7 per cent to 31,000. There were 450 fire deaths in the period, down 7 per cent on the previous 12 months. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:4 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Young drivers. |
| RoSPA is carrying out research on young drivers who drive for work purposes. Funded by the DfT, the project focuses on drivers aged 17-25. For the first part of the research, employers are being asked to complete an online questionnaire about young drivers. The results will be used by the Driving Standards Agency to help determine the need for work-related post-driving test education, training and qualifications for young drivers. |
Internet: www.rospa.com/roadsafety RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:4 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Tradesmen warned of "hidden killer". |
| Tradesmen are the target of a new campaign launched this month to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. Asbestos is the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK with 20 tradesmen dying each week from asbestos related disease. Research shows that, whilst many tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians know that asbestos is dangerous, they don't believe that they are personally at risk. |
Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/hiddenkiller and www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/regulations.htm RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:8 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Best foot forward. |
| Employers are being urged to drop "inappropriate" requirements for workers to wear uncomfortable or dangerous footwear. The TUC says that while many employers allow staff to wear healthy and safe footwear, a number of big city institutions and shops insist female staff who deal with the public wear slip-on shoes or high heels as part of a dress code. The wrong footwear can lead to long term foot problems, especially with prolonged standing. |
Internet: www.tuc.org.uk/extras/footwear.pdf RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:9 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Posture guide for mobile workers. |
| BT Business has launched a practical guide to help mobile workers to avoid back, neck and arm problems that can arise as a result of poor posture when using mobile working tools such as laptops, mobiles and smartphones in unfamiliar surroundings. |
Internet: www.insight.bt.com/articles/Get-fit-for-mobile-working RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:10 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Hope for back pain sufferers. |
| Results from a year long study show evidence that the Alexander Technique can provide long-term benefit for people suffering from chronic or recurrent low back pain. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:11 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Court report. |
| Recent health and safety-related cases where deficiencies in the risk assessment process were contributory factors to prosecution. (Edward Hodson) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:14-15 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Hand arm vibration. |
| It is now over 30 years since the first guidance to employers on control of vibration was published and over three years since the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 were introduced - so why are there still so many compensation claims for vibration-related injuries? Importantly, what practical action can employers take? A look at the assessment and control of vibration risks. (Ian Glendenning) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:17-22 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Long REACH of the law. |
| REACH, the EU chemical legislation which came into force in 2007, requires the registration over a period of 11 years of some 30,000 chemical substances in use today. The onus is on industry to generate the data required for registration and to identify the measures needed to manage any risks from substances. (Nick Cook) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:27-32 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Changing places. |
| UK plc's once heavily-industrialised workplaces have now fragmented into thousands of settings, and workplaces now encompass potentially everywhere from the kitchen table to the airport hotel bedroom. These settings can potentially generate new hazards, obliging occup health professionals to re-think their practices. (Elizabeth Gates) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:37-41 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Reassessing risk assessment. |
| This year's European H&S Week is the start of a new two-year focus on risk assessment across the EU. But why is there a need to re-visit this subject now? Surely everyone understands what risk assessment is all about. An examination of the issues. (Roger Bibbings) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal October 2008:50-51 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| North East building firm fined £6,000 for failing to ensure workers' safety at height. |
| Abercorn Homes Ltd, Tyne and Wear, fined £6,000 and costs of £17,028 under WHR 2005. Failure to ensure the roofing work was carried out safely on an industrial building. Edge protection had not been provided for the eaves of the building, which were approx 50 metres long, although it had been provided on the gable ends. Inappropriate access equipment used. The HSE has warned employers that they face prosecution if they fail to ensure the safety of people working at height. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NE/484/08 7/10/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Building designers in Scotland told, innovative building design essential but include health and safety too. |
| To mark World Architecture Day 2008, the HSE reminded building designers in Scotland of their responsibilities under the new CDM Regs 2007, and to plan in health and safety, as well as creativity and innovation, when working on new projects. |
HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/154/08 6/10/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Manchester industry faces safety spot checks. |
| During the last five years ten workers have died in the Greater Manchester area as a result of industrial related incidents. The HSE, in partnership with Trafford MBC, is piloting a project at premises in Trafford Park which it hopes will reduce the death toll. This will start on Monday 13 October and will be a week-long series of spot checks on businesses operating within the park. |
HSE (North West) Press Release HSE/NW/FOD/002/08 7/10/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Lancashire industry faces safety spot checks. |
| On average one Lancashire worker has died in each of the last five years as a result of industrial related injuries. The HSE, in partnership with Wyre Borough Council, is piloting a project at premises on Poulton Industrial Estate, which it hopes will reduce the death toll. Spot-checks will be carried out between mid-October and mid November. |
HSE (North West) Press Release HSE/NW/FOD/003/08 7/10/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Health and safety in the night-time economy is put under the spotlight this month. |
| The next 3 weeks will see the night-time economy in the South West put under the spotlight as inspectors from the HSE and local authority EH departments take part in a joint initiative to improve working conditions for hundreds of workers. Inspections by HSE and EH officers will take place between 13 and 30 October across many parts of the South West region. Owners and managers can expect strong enforcement action if they are found to be contravening health and safety regulations. |
HSE (South West) Press Release 558/SWW/08 7/10/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| HSE warns property owners to obtain gas safety certificates following prosecution of Great Yarmouth landlord. |
| Landlord Madhu Bhajanehatti was fined £24,840 and costs of £13,481.02 under GSIUR 1998 and HASAWA 1974 s33. Failure to comply with Improvement Notices which required him to obtain written gas safety records for each of the 12 flats he owned in Great Yarmouth. |
HSE (East) Press Release HSE-99A 30/9/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Free health and safety advice for Central Scotland's migrant workers. |
| Migrant workers in Central Scotland were urged to attend a free evening workshop in Alloa to advise them of their legal rights in the workplace. They play a vital role in Scotland's workforce and are protected by laws on rights and conditions of work. |
HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/155/08 8/10/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Lincoln company fined £5,000 after staff exposed to excess noise and worker sustains fractured foot. |
| G.B. Logan Fabrications Ltd were fined £5,000 and costs of £3,390 under MHSWR 1999 and CNWR 2005. A Lincoln man was cleaning a plasma cutting machine at G.B. Logan Fabrications Ltd when he removed the machine's spoil drawer, weighing 40kg, tripped over a pallet of waste material and dropped it onto his foot, resulting in a fracture. The company failed to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to H&S of its employees. They also failed to reduce the noise exposure of employees from machinery, in this case a computer numeric control punch press. The HSE inspector recorded significantly high noise levels and noted that previous advice on noise had been given to the company. |
HSE (East Midlands) Press Release HSE/EM/780 8/10/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Alpine Tools Ltd |
| Fined £6,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. IP suffered serious hand injury when operating an unguarded power press. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4100911 28/7/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Pro-mil Ltd |
| Fined £5,015 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP was helping to fell some trees at the back of works when a piece of wood used to secure the pulling line from the tree to an FLT dislodged under the strain and catapulted 13 metres striking the IP on the head. He sustained a life-threatening cranial fracture, The company failed to assess the risk from the operation, failed to ensure those conducting the work had the necessary training and competency, and operated an unsafe system of work for the felling of the tree. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4112195 28/7/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Apollo Cradles Ltd |
| Fined total of £115,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 and s36. One employee killed and three seriously injured when suspended access cradle collapsed causing painter to fall approx 35ft. Inadequate maintenance on bracket connecting winch to cradle and no independent safety rope. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4076561 29/7/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Bradway Construction Ltd |
| Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. One employee killed and three seriously injured when suspended access cradle collapsed causing painter to fall approx 35ft. Inadequate maintenance on bracket connecting winch to cradle and no independent safety rope. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4076591 29/7/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| S B P Limited |
| Fined total of £7,500 under PUWER 1998 and MHSWR 1999. Accident of an employee who had lost 3 fingers from their right hand after they were masticated by a rotary valve. The mild steel housing of the fixed guard, preventing access to the valve, had been sawn off. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4106158 29/7/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Carillion JM Ltd |
| Fined £70,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. This case did result from a fatality. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4048467 30/7/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Mr R Cartlidge |
| Fined £1,000 under GSIUR 1998. Installation of a gas appliance by Richard Cartlidge at Victoria Road East, Thornton. He was not CORGI registered. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4119909 30/7/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Mr Tommy Smith |
| Fined total of £10,000 under GSIUR 1998. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4075883 1/8/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| Cooks Transport Engineers Ltd |
| Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Self employed worker fell from a height of approx 25 ft from a platform poorly manufactured and not attached to FLT. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4115278 1/8/08 Week ending: 10/10/08 |
| HSE launches updated guidance for worker involvement. |
| HSE has launched new guidance for involving employees in managing workplace health and safety. The guidance has been brought right up-to-date to reflect the current diversity of working arrangements. |
Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/involvement HSE (National) Press Release E048:08 14/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Record rescues. |
| New figures from the Fire Brigade Union indicates that the overall number of recorded rescues undertaken by UK fire services from fires and vehicle crashes could be at unprecedented levels, with 322 people being rescued each week. |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:3 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| New statistics. |
| The Communities and Local Government's "Fire Statistics Monitor" has revealed that for the 12-month period to 30 September 2007, UK fire and rescue services attended 826,500 fires and false alarms incidents. The number of total fire deaths (450) fell by 7 per cent compare with the previous 12 months. |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:4 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Nightclub prosecuted after man suffers burns. |
| Ultimate Leisure Ltd fined a total of £4,000 and costs of £975 under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. Andrew Reilly suffered severe burns to his back while visiting the Sea Nightclub, owned by Ultimate Leisure, after he was leaning against a shelf, a tea-light candle positioned on the shelf set light to his shirt. The club's risk assessment made no mention of the use of the candles, and staff were not trained in how to deal with an incident involving naked flames. |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:5 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Road safety. |
| West Midlands Fire Service is holding a conference on 21 October at its training centre in Smethwick. Entitled "Road kill: Accept it or change it!", it will feature high-profile speakers from the spheres of law enforcement healthcare, politics, engineering and psychology. |
Contact: 0121 380 6711 or roadkill@wmfs.net Fire Risk Management October 2008:5 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Portable position. |
| The provision of portable fire extinguishers in residential premises has proved a controversial talking point recently. A clarification of the legal position. (Colin Todd) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:9-10 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Super models. |
| An exploration of the challenges for fire engineers in developing strategies for the new generation of super high-rise buildings. (Iain Macfarlane) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:19-23 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| High integrity. |
| Fire protection issues for high-rise buildings - including the need for safe access and facilities for fire-fighters. (Patrick Cox) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:24-28 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Power sharing. |
| The selection and installation of fire-safe cable is vital to support fire alarms and other critical building systems. (Graham Turner) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:29-31 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Panel standards. |
| Some recent developments relating to the fire performance of sandwich panel systems. (Peter Trew) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:34-36 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Concordat for change. |
| The outline of an agreement between the fire authority and the NHS in London to improve compliance with fire safety law. (Simon Greenfield) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:43-46 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Fire forum. |
| Major industries in Cheshire directly benefit from a unique forum in which on-site fire managers and the fire service share their expertise and develop good practice. (Dave Dowling) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:51-53 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Flying high. |
| The world's busiest international airport demands a dedicated fire service. A report on how Heathrow is meeting the challenge. (Nathan Deverell) |
Fire Risk Management October 2008:60-61 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Landlord fined £5,500 after double carbon monoxide poisoning in Hackney. |
| Mr Soley Fikret, landlord of a block of flats in Hackney, was fined £4,000 and costs of £1,500 under GSIUR 1998. Two tenants were poisoned by carbon monoxide from a boiler that had not been properly maintained in their flat. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/LON/008/2008 14/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Recycling firm fined after employee falls from lorry in Lincoln. |
| European Metal Recycling Ltd was fined £2,500 and costs of £2,454 under WHR 2005. An agency worker was repositioning fridge and freezer units on a curtain-sided trailer. He was standing on a fridge unit, attempting to move another unit on top of it to prevent it sticking out of the side of the vehicle, when he lost his balance and fell around 10 feet to the ground. He sustained various injuries including fractured neck vertebrae and had to wear a neck brace for 3 months. HSE said "This incident could have been avoided and a man might not have been seriously injured if the company had sufficient procedures in place." |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/EM/133/08 15/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| HSE takes decision not to prosecute over Liverpool tower crane facility. |
| HSE has announced its decision not to take a prosecution following the death of a worker after a luffing jib tower crane collapsed on a construction site. The joint investigation by Merseyside Police and HSL concluded that there was insufficient evidence to bring proceedings against any of the parties involved including the crane manufacturer, crane hirer, Principal Contractor running the site, sub-contractor using the crane at the time of the incident, and the crane driver. |
Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/liveissues/liverpool.htm HSE (National) Press Release HSE E049:08 17/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Cumbrian care staff sign up for health and safety advice. |
| More than 100 care home staff in North Cumbria signed up to an event that brought them up to speed on the latest health and safety legislation. |
HSE (North West) Press Release HSE/NW/FOD/004/08 14/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| HSE blitz on Somerset care homes highlights room for improvement. |
| Following a recently completed series of unannounced targeted inspections of care homes across Somerset, 'Room for improvement across the board' is the general consensus of inspectors from the HSE. A range of H&S issues were spotlighted relating to such areas as hot water, hot surfaces, window restrictors, legionella, manual handling, latex and bed rails. |
HSE (South West) Press Release 580SWW/08 14/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Essex councils join HSE to hit back at health and safety myths. |
| Every council across Essex has signed up to the HSE campaign to combat the growing number of myths that are undermining health and safety legislation. |
HSE (East) Press Release HSE-E98 14/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| HSE and Bradford Council put City's businesses on alert. |
| HSE and Bradford Council are joining forces to visit hundreds of businesses in the city in a hard-hitting new campaign aimed at making the city a safer and healthier place in which to work. |
HSE (Yorkshire and the Humber) Press Release YH/492/08 15/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| HSE warns companies to properly maintain machine guarding after Essex worker lost finger tip. |
| Wilkin & Sons Ltd in Tiptree was fined total of £4,000 and costs of £2,855 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and PUWER 1998. An employee had been unblocking a machine used for shredding orange peel. The guarding was not adequate and the employee was able to reach into the machine while it was still running. The tip of their index finger touched a rotating bladed roller and was cut off. |
HSE (East) Press Release HSE-E113 16/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Survey company prosecuted as HSE campaign to raise awareness of asbestos danger begins. |
| Normandie Analytical Services Ltd was fined a total of £18,000 and costs of £21,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. The company failed to identify asbestos insulation board in 2 school buildings during a series of surveys carried out ahead of construction work. Asbestos poses no risk to health if it remains intact and undisturbed. However, the inaccurate survey from the company resulted in construction workers disturbing the asbestos and being exposed to an unnecessary risk to their health. |
HSE (Wales) Press Release 588/HSE/2008 17/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| HSE warns about dangers of falling from vehicles following death of tanker driver. |
| Carntyne Transport Ltd was fined a total of £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. This follows the death of a tanker driver who fell 3 metres from the top of this vehicle because his employer failed to provide a safe place to work. |
HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/158/08 17/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Regulators join forces to check on workplace transport risks in Huntingdonshire. |
| HSE and Huntingdonshire District Council have joined forces with other enforcement agencies in a bid to ensure that workplace transport risks are being controlled by companies operating from the Alconbury Airfield site. There are almost 100 premises on the site, many of which rely on workplace transport as part of their core business. |
HSE (East) Press Release HSE-E114 17/10/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| L.C.H. Contracts Limited |
| Fined total of £70,000 under CAWR 2002. Uncontrolled asbestos removal works, inadequate supervision of waste and work not carried out according to licence conditions and/or asbestos legislation including failure to work in accordance with their plan of work. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4052188 4/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| R. Maskell Limited |
| Fined total of £150,000 under CHSWR 1996 and HASAWA 1974 s2. Asbestos removal without a licence, no asbestos survey and no fire precautions. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4052192 4/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Stephen Gormley |
| Fined £800 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Failure to ensure adequate measures were in place on fragile roof to prevent a person falling through roof. An employee fell through fragile roof and was injured. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4065157 4/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Con Mech Engineers Ltd |
| Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. The IP was lifting a piece of steel off the machine with the magnetic hoist and it fell away from the hoist and hit his leg. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4112841 5/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Limited |
| Fined £13,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injuries sustained when pallets stacked 4 high toppled from an FLT and struck the IP. The injured employee and a co-worker were inspecting castings/tyres approx 4-5 feet away from FLT movement at the time of the accident. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4113166 5/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Tews Engineering Ltd |
| Fined total of £10,500 under MHSWR 1999 and HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee was diagnosed with hand arm vibration from using grinders and a belt finishing machine. The company received several warnings and pieces of advice over a 3 year period that it needed to assess the risks of injury due to the effects of vibration and it did not do so. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4111518 6/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Westminster Building Company Ltd |
| Fined £40,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. This case did result from a fatality. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4079126 8/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Spanclad Construction Ltd |
| Guilty under CHSWR 1996 and HASAWA 1974 s2. This case did result from a fatality. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4079130 8/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Federal-Mogul Camshafts Castings Ltd |
| Fined £40,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee received serious head injuries whilst carrying out 'black and white' test on foundry line. No suitable risk assessment or safe system of work was in place when test undertaken, leading to accident when system used failed, resulting in IP entering a dangerous area when machinery was re-activated. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4097453 8/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| Simon John Ludgate |
| Fined total of £1,500 under RIDDOR 1995 and HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3. Unsafe working at height, including unreported accident to agency worker. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4099990 8/8/08 Week ending: 17/10/08 |
| HSE launches 'Asbestos: The Hidden Killer' campaign in association with ex-footballer Ian Wright. |
| HSE has revealed that every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos related disease and this number is set to increase. Former tradesman and football legend Ian Wright has given his support to help highlight the importance of the HSE "Asbestos: The Hidden Killer" campaign which is running throughout October and November and aims to reduce the rising death rate by educating today's tradesmen about the danger that asbestos presents to them. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE E050:08 22/10/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Two companies fined £44,500 after man paralysed in fall at work. |
| T.J. Myles & Co (Contractors) Ltd, of Hillingdon, fined £20,000 and costs of £7,339.20 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Crispin & Borst Ltd, of Watford, fined £10,000 and costs of £7,155.20 under HASAWA 1974 s3. HSE is urging employers to ensure safe working at height after a man was paralysed from the waist down following a fall of two storeys at a construction site. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/LON/009/08 20/10/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Minister speaks to North West Health and Safety Union representatives. |
| The Health and Safety Minister Lord McKenzie was in Manchester to explain how the safest companies are those whose workers are directly involved in health and safety planning. The aim of the conference was to promote best practice and reduce workplace accidents by helping all sides get a better understanding of each other's role and responsibilities. |
HSE (North West) Press Release HSE/NW/022/08 21/10/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| HSE reminds electrical contractors to use safe working practices after Edinburgh company fined £300,000. |
| Mitie Engineering Services (Edinburgh) Ltd, fined £300,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Two company directors and the project manager were acquitted of charges under HASAWA 1974 s37. Mr Michael Adamson a qualified electrician was electrocuted when he came into contact with a live conductor in a cable on which he was working. Despite being labelled 'not in use' the cable he was working on was live, it had not been safely and securely isolated from the electricity supply. Mr Adamson was not provided with the necessary test equipment to prove the cable was dead, nor the means to securely isolate the circuit. |
HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/050/08 22/10/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Carlton company fined after employee loses finger in machine. |
| FA North (Carlton) Ltd, Nottingham, was fined a total of £6,000 and costs of £4,678 under PUWER 1998. Employee Richard Howitt was using a woodworking machine known as a spindle moulder. As he pushed a piece of wood through the machine, it slipped and his hand went into the cutters resulting in the amputation of two fingers and the partial amputation of the thumb on his right hand. |
HSE (East Midlands) Press Release HSE/EM/140/08 22/10/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Secretary of state supports launch of HSE 'asbestos the hidden killer' campaign. |
| HSE has revealed that every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos related disease and this number is set to increase. Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy has given his support to help highlight the importance of the HSE "Asbestos: The Hidden Killer" campaign which is running throughout October and November and aims to reduce the rising death rate by educating today's tradesmen about the danger that asbestos presents to them. |
HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/162/08 23/10/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Brian Bowes |
| Fined £2,500 under PUWER 1998. The IP was cutting blocks of wood on bench saw. Brian Bowes was planing and passing them to IP. The blocks were then pushed through saw. This description was given by IP as Brian Bowes did not actually see the accident. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4103481 11/8/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Lincat Ltd |
| Fined total of £19,400 under MHOR 1992 and HASAWA 1974 s2. Accident Investigation revealed poor manual handling and H&S management controls. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4049405 13/8/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| NYK Logistics (UK) Ltd |
| Fined £20,000 under WHSWR 1992. Accident investigation involving a FLT. Driver was reversing out of a lorry trailer and knocked over IP. Injuries to IP's leg resulted in amputation below the knee. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4051188 14/8/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Geoffrey Eccles |
| Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Prosecuted in his capacity as a partner in H&F Eccles. An employee suffered major injuries after being crushed by a silage bale weighing up to a tonne. The employee had been working with a colleague stacking round-wrapped silage bales using a telehandler and a bale grab. The bale grab failed while the last bale was being placed at the top of six-bale high stack. The worker went to inspect the cracked bale grab, a bale fell, crushing him and causing the injuries. The defendant had failed to adequately maintain the equipment and had failed to train the employee in safe working practices. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4115708 14/8/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Sean Terence Sharp |
| Fined £285.00 under GSIUR 1998. No penalty under HASAWA 1974 s7. Domestic gas fire found by gas installer to have flue blocked with cavity wall insulation. This caused spillage to occur. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4120229 14/8/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| Kingswood Learning and Leisure Group Ltd |
| Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Following accident on indoor climbing wall. Child fell 6 metres from wall. Failure to follow own procedures in relation to supervision of staff and staff pupil ratios. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4102411 15/8/08 Week ending: 24/10/08 |
| New European OSH standard launched. |
| A new European certification standard for OSH professionals has been launched. The voluntary standard is called European Occup Safety and Health Manager (EurOSHM) and has been developed by the new European safety body ENSHPO. |
Internet: www.enshpo.org Safety Management October 2008:8 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| New drive to protect vulnerable workers. |
| The Government has promised a crackdown on rogue employers and exploitative work practices. Delivered by the recently formed Fair Employment Enforcement Board, the new drive will concentrate on bringing unscrupulous bosses who "abuse vulnerable workers and undercut honest businesses" to book. |
Internet: www.berr.gov.uk/files/file47317.pdf Safety Management October 2008:4 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Minister orders independent review of construction deaths. |
| Although it has yet to be formally announced, the HSE and DWP have confirmed that they are to go ahead with an investigation into recent deaths in the construction industry after a request by the Secretary of State for Works and Pensions. |
Safety Management October 2008:5 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| No extension to Gangmasters Licensing. |
| The Government has been forced to scotch press reports suggesting that it has struck an agreement with union leaders to extend the Gangmasters Licensing Authority's regulation remit to include the construction sector. |
Safety Management October 2008:5 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Over two million work in unsafe conditions, say TUC. |
| Over two million UK workers describe their jobs as "unsafe" according to a new study by the TUC. The survey also found that 3.5 million people (1 in 7) have been bullied in their current job, 46 per cent (11 million) complain of rising workloads and 39 per cent are unhappy about stress levels. |
Safety Management October 2008:5 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Workers unlikely to blow the whistle. |
| According to a recent survey on behalf of IOSH, fewer than a third of Britain's workers would be prepared to blow the whistle if their employer broke H&S law. On the positive side, the survey also found that 65 per cent of employees see H&S as something that saves people's lives rather than unnecessary red tape. |
Safety Management October 2008:5 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE to investigate atomic lab? |
| The HSE is to investigate the possibility that radioactive residue in the lab in which the atom was first split is responsible for a handful of recent cancer deaths. Members of the faculty have called for an external review of the site in a report published in June, since they discovered by chance that the Rutherford Building, where they worked, had previously been investigated for radioactive contamination in 1999. Four of their colleagues have died of cancer since 1992, prompting concerns. |
Safety Management October 2008:7 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| "Bring back British Bulldog to combat cotton-wool culture." |
| Parents and teachers should "defy compensation culture" and encourage children to get back to playing traditional playground games, the Local Government Assoc has announced. The move has been designed by the LGA as a weapon in the war against childhood obesity, and was launched in time for the new school year. |
Safety Management October 2008:7 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE staff to get strike ballot. |
| The union which represents admin staff at the HSE is to ballot its members on whether or not to strike in response to the Government's decision to cap public sector pay below inflation. |
Safety Management October 2008:7 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Europe-wide driving licences to hold eyesight details from 2013. |
| It has been announced that new standardised driving licences which will record their owners' eyesight requirements will be introduced across the EU from 2011. The legislation will also require commercial drivers to have their eyes tested every 5 years, and private licence holders every 10 to 15 years. |
Safety Management October 2008:8 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Computer error leaves accident unreported and Asda out of pocket. |
| Asda have been fined a total of £4,150 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and RIDDOR 1995. During a routine inspection by a local EHO, an accident where an employee was off work for a month after slipping in a walk-in freezer, was found to have gone unreported under RIDDOR. On further investigation, the EHO also found a build-up of ice on freezer floor, which had caused the accident. |
Safety Management October 2008:12 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Keeping the Games on the rails. |
| Construction projects don't come much higher profile than the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With the eyes of the world on your work, if you slip up, you slip up to a chorus of international criticism. A visit to a major Olympic development to see how seriously they're taking health and safety. (Tom Mendelsohn) |
Safety Management October 2008:27-30 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Delivering the goods on manual handling. |
| Lifting and carrying work happens routinely in almost every work environment and this is particularly true for DHL employees. How the company tackles manual handling risks. (Joanna Gurman) |
Safety Management October 2008:35-36,38,41-42 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Achieving excellence in fork-lift safety. |
| Earlier this year, Sellafield Ltd became the first ever winner of the Safe Site Award at the annual Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) Awards for Excellence. An explanation of how it achieved this feat. (Phil Gregory) |
Safety Management October 2008:45-46,48 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Excavator driver fined after pedestrian killed near building site. |
| Colin Clifford fined £2,500 and costs of £1,250 under HASAWA 1974 s7. He was operating an excavator outside a house and within a fenced off area. The excavator had a number of buckets stored in the front bucket of the machine. Whilst turning the excavator, he raised the front buckets over the site fence until they were hanging over an unprotected section of public pavement. An 81 yr old pedestrian was walking past when Mr Clifford unintentionally operated the wrong lever causing the stored buckets to fall to the pavement. At least one of these struck the pedestrian who died soon afterwards. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/LON/010/2008 24/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE warns on dangers of construction after exploding pipe stopper injured contractor. |
| Galliford Try Construction Limited of Middlesex, were fined £15,000 and costs of £8,788 under HASAWA 1974 s3. A joiner was sub-contracted to the company working on the construction of a water treatment works when the incident took place. The joiner suffered leg injuries and damaged hearing when an over inflated stopper exploded in the confined space where he as working, resulting in significant hospital treatment. |
HSE (National) Press Release COI 603/W/08 24/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE Chair speaks on Process Safety and Performance Measurement at Cefic Responsible Care Conference. |
| At the recent conference, HSE Chair Judith Hackitt reminded senior managers and safety professionals to put leadership and effective process safety and performance measurement high on their agenda. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/E05108 October 2008 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Your back is in our hands. HSE gives practical advice on preventing and managing back pain at mid Wales event. |
| Back disorders are the most common form of occupational ill health experienced in Britain. Employers from across Wales had practical advice from the HSE and Powys County Council on preventing and managing back pain amongst their employees. |
HSE (National) Press Release COI 608/W/08 27/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE Press Office: Change of address. |
| From Monday 27th October the HSE national press office moves to HSE's Redgrave Court building in Bootle, Merseyside as part of its programme to create a single HQ for HSE. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/E051:08 27/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE publishes health and safety statistics for 2007/08. |
| New statistics published by the HSE reveal a reduction in the number of people killed at work (229), injured (over 136,000 workers suffered amputations, burns or fractures), or made ill (2.1 million suffering from work related illnesses) during 2007/08. 1,028 offences were prosecuted by HSE and 354 by local authorities. Regional figures have also been released. |
Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/hssoct08.htm HSE (National) Press Release HSE/E053:08 29/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Falls Shatter Lives: HSE warning after Oil and Gas Systems Ltd prosecution. |
| Oil and Gas Systems Ltd fined £3,500 and costs of £2,457.80 under WHR 2005. An agency worker was asked to go up onto a skid platform to touch up some paintwork, prior to it being shipped out to a customer. He subsequently fell through an aperture and broke his pelvis in two places. He was warned to take care as there were holes in the floor created by the removal of some panels to allow for the skid to be picked up by a crane soon after. This meant that the company were aware of the risk, but had not put in place any measures to mitigate this. |
HSE (Wales) Press Release HSE/596/2008 23/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE publishes report into investigation of triple fatality at Corus steelworks, Port Talbot. |
| HSE has published the report into the investigation of the explosion of No 5 Blast Furnace at the Corus Steelworks in Port Talbot, South Wales on 8 November 2001. In December 2006, Corus UK Ltd were fined £1.33 million and costs of £1.74 million under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3. Three Corus employees died in the incident, while a further 12 employees and contractors suffered serious injuries. |
HSE (Wales) Press Release 597/W/08 23/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE and Hull council take action on safety in city's workplaces. |
| Nearly 230 Hull businesses were recently visited in an intensive one-week joint inspection campaign aimed at making the city a safer and healthier place in which to work. Enforcement action was taken at a number of premises with the serving of 10 PNs, preventing work continuing until remedial action has been taken, and 15 INs which allow time for managers to comply with requirements. |
HSE (Yorkshire and the Humber) Press Release YH/520/08 23/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Clocks go back. HSE issues advice for safe working in winter. |
| Now that the clocks have gone back and winter is approaching, the HSE Principal Inspector of Construction is offering some timely guidance to ensure workers remain safe during the colder, darker months ahead. "For those working outdoors the winter months bring additional challenges to keeping safe. Cold weather and shorter periods of daylight mean there is more potential for accidents to happen. With a little planning and common sense, these can be avoided." |
HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/167/08 26/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| HSE launches 'Asbestos: The Hidden Killer' campaign throughout the country. |
| As part of the campaign to bring a heightened awareness of the dangers of working with asbestos, HSE Regions throughout the country have issued Press Releases giving details of statistics for asbestos fatalities and illnesses in their Regions. Many are receiving support for the campaign from widows and families who have suffered loss through asbestos related illnesses. The Regional PRs are available through the News Distribution Service for Government and the Public Sector. |
Internet: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/ HSE (Regional) Press Releases Various refs 23,24,27,28,29/10/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| BPB United Kingdom Limited |
| Fined £90,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee injured when he was knocked from a tower scaffold by material that was discharged from the silo as the hatch was being replaced after the clearing of a blockage in the silo. There was no safe system of work for cleaning the silo or removing or replacing the hatch. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4081169 18/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Pilgrim Health NHS Trust |
| Guilty. No fine under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999. IP was exposed to gluteraldehyde while cleaning an X-ray processing machine. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4102142 18/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Franklin Hire Limited |
| Fined £10,015 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Dangerous occurrence - scaffolding collapse. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4097837 19/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Property Repair Network Ltd |
| Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Failure to adequately assess risks or to provide safe equipment for working in confined space, as a result of which an employee suffered personal injury due to exposure to a toxic gas. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4097837 19/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Sears Manufacturing Co (Europe) Ltd |
| Fined £2,000 under PPEWR 1992. Partial amputation of IP's thumb on left hand from use of rotary fabric cutter. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4102333 19/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Pervez Mohammed Iqbal |
| Guilty. No fine under HASAWA 1974 s2. Manslaughter by gross negligence and HASAWA s2 and s3, linked to Kundi Electrical Investigation. This case did result from the investigation of a fatality. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4104107 20/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Alcon Construction Limited |
| Fined £10 under HASAWA 1974 s2. DP was working on a first floor flat roof when he fell through an unguarded skylight approx 3.3 metres onto a concrete floor. Failure to plan construction work, in particular work at height. Company pleaded guilty to HASAWA 1974 s2 charge and fined a nominal £10 with no costs since, in words of Judge Peter Jacob, it had no money. If it had, the fine would have run into "ten of thousands of pounds". |
HSE Prosecution Case 4123217 21/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Sharaz Ahmed Butt |
| Guilty. No fine, but imprisoned, under HASAWA 1974 s37. Mr Butt sole Director of Alcon Construction Ltd, pleaded guilty to manslaughter (12 months imprisonment) and of causing Alcon Construction Ltd to be in breach of HASAWA 1974 s2. Disqualified from being a director for 5 years. All other charges withdrawn. No costs awarded as defendant has no means to pay. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4132437 21/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
| Conair Europe Ltd |
| Fined £20,000 under SMSR 1992. Company supplied a Servo Knife Cutter which did not satisfy the relevant essential safety requirements. Company did not carry out the conformity assessment procedure required by Reg 13 and the machine was not safe. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4109258 21/8/08 Week ending: 31/10/08 |
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HSE Prosecutions Database
The HSE did not post prosecutions for about a year from January until November 2006. There is therefore be a gap in our database from a hearing date of 24 January 2006 until 1 November 2006. Anyone not finding a case which may have been heard between January and November 2006, should therefore try searching the HSE Prosecutions database.
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